Waffle baking machine



April 17, 1951 T. F. SCHLICKSUPP WAFFLE BAKING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1949 INVENTOR. Tfiwabrz FJz/ifikawapp ATTORNEYS April 1951 T. F. SCHLICKSUPP 2,549,531

' WAFFLE BAKING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2 4

4 INVENTOR.

751009 I dzfifiz/bapa ZMZI QM ATTORNEYS April 17, 1951 Filed March 25, 1949 T. F. SCHLfCKSUPP 2,549,531

WAFFLE BAKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet s FlG. 6

36 32 40 0 g W 45 F, 114 Ill 1 I I T I II E o MIME 0 0 B mg filP O A O {ii 20 19 31 \15 FIG. 7

, INVENTOR.

'Tfifflflflff 56%A 'c'ii11g0 BY Z LJZJ; LQ

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 17, 1,951

sUNITE-D TATES This invention relates toimprovements-imwafile baking-machines *Wafiie baking-machines i are in use 'llT'WhiCh wafile irons: orimolds; sometimes referred to as books, -pass-*in :an endless series past a station" where *ther'wafiie irons are opened and. filled with -batter,- then through a baking oven, and back to the-filling statiomwhere thebaked wafiie is strippedf from-each ;-Wafi1eiron; as soon as it is opened and prior to its-being l e-filled with batter. Dur i-ng' 'the baking--stage,- a certain amount of steam-isgeneratedin-the waflleirons from the moisture content in L the -'--ba-tter and therefore steamvents -mustbe providedon each-waflle iron at certain -p1aceswhere the twoplates of the wafiie iron-=-meet* to--a11ow the-steam to escape. These ventshave the disadvantage of allowing-a certain amountof-"the batter itself 1 to--escape through them in addition to thesteam. This overflow batter. which bakes in the form-of projections on tho-edges of the'waflies' has heretoforebeen removed-from them after the-waffies are removed -from' the-wafile irons. j i This operation is, of course;- time-consumingand costly, and therefore-objectionable.

"The @prin'cipal obie'ct =of-this' invention is to,

provide a swaflie baking machine of'the kind above described with means for automatically 5 removing :ithe woverfiow batter which 1 has :escaped through the steamvents: of the wafileirons: while the-.wafllesnaresstill in'Lth-enr and prior to the opening .ofytherwaffle :irons for the, removal of the Waflles.

.sAccordingato .the invention ea'ch of i the wafiie irons; is provided with cutting; or: trimming means movablymounte'd adjacent each steam vent,- and actuating meansis :provided on: the :machine for I automatically, .ioperating yithe cutter or. trimmer as eachzwaflieaironwreaches a position inadvance of,:the.= station at which the bakediwaifiesareremoved from theirons. 1

The. advantages of a .wafiie; baking :machine .in

which: the: batter: overflow :is, automatically-removcd.:-from.;ther waffle; irons, in. this-manner are readily-apparent;:Eor; jin;'operating rit,-. the; 'previ-- ouscostlyandrtime:consuming practice-of trimming; the .edges 0ft the w'aflies zafterthey -have been-removed from the ewafiie' ironsis'made 'un-.

.-"Claims. (01. 107-5 i 2 follqwin 'de cri tio 0f a s cificformto th entiqn i lu t ate ,i .th w cc m n in drawings, in which:

:F u'r f 11 aid levat n. o a affl ba in machine embodying "the invention, part of jthe machine heingjshown in phantom;

,Fi qz is a plan view of one of the wafileirons as it appears WhQni looking down upon "it vwhile vit is travelling onythe upp,er trapk of the machine;

Fig: 3' isan end-view of' the .waiifle iron show n :Figaiis a; plan view of one of the waffle irons of the machine;

f neis nen ewer on o th W i i n p n d o p mi rem va o ba ed .wa an the ref n of t waffl ji o W t reh-.ba ter;

"Figrii is a side elevation partly.in verticalsectio of .on 'l he rwafiieirons as ifififiPfifiPSll e r pa nde th a tu tin mea whic operates the cutters or trimmers', the section henc taken o l jne' i6 of, Fi -L4 ii 7 s ow t leading. en of th a i iro f -Fi ?6 te ha re che Tith po ti li -whiich;: the trimminem an a l he" ea; l ne,e ge

i 831s a p rtia en e evat on art i t tical section, of the waflie irongshownin Fig. the s e n tak ahna'th l n 84m Fig.6.

T wa e a' ioammhine ;s w. t edm in s; a ar i li pr sen i pr vements. i

I of a w ll knowh typea idwi l irs ede cribed,

but; only in sufiicient' detail to give a progenunderstanding, of the invention.

f rin fi rFi 5 11 1 waf ehba sine machine -comp'rises a-framework' l which suloe ports an upper-track 2; and; a lower track 2a. ,1 A

number-of-waffie irons 3, each provided o with four-wheels 4- are connected in -an endless series bya s'et of -links 5- at each side; of the machine.

. Asbestshownin Fig. ;1,-each .linkpivotally connects- -the-whee1 -ax1e" at the end- 0f one wafile irQn -to' the -wheel *axle atthe adjacent -;end pf the next -wafile iron. Movement of the waffle irons through themed-chine is efiected hy;-a motor-driven mechanismt' tlfig; 1) drive chainfl;

'in one lower unh hc zcourseihe wh e .the lqwe .t pmoand theymoye irons reach the end of the lower track 211 their Wheels roll on curved members e which guide the waiile irons onto the upper track 2. The movement of the wafiie irons on the upper track is therefore fromright to left in Fig. 1. During movement of the wafile irons from the lower track to the upper track they are automatically opened as hereinafter described and then move successively past the filling station while open. The filling station is designated F in Fig. 1. Here a predetermined amount of batter is introduced into each wame iron by'a pump (not shown) after a baked waffle has been removed from the open iron. As the waffle irons leave the filling station they are automatically .closed and then pass successively through a baking oven designated in Fig. 1.

Each of the waflie irons comprises essentially a pair of hinged mold sections, one of which is relatively fixed and the other of which swings relative to the first one. A plate i2 (Fig. forms a part of the relatively fixed section and a plate I3 forms a part of the swinging section. The two surfaces of the plates which come together when the waflle iron is closed are molded to give them the usual wafile pattern. The plate [2 is supported on a pair of transverse axle bars [4 (Fig. 5) on the end of which the wheels 4 are mounted. Thus, when the waffle iron is supported on the upper track 2 the transverse bars l4 extend under the plate 12 and support it with its waffle-pattern surface facing upwards. The plate i3 is secured at its outer side to a pair of transverse metal strips l5 (Figs. 2 and 5) which project beyond one longitudinal edge of the plate. The projecting end of each strip I5 carries at its inner side a hinge lug it. Each of the axle bars 12 which support the plate l2 carries a similar hinge lug H. A hinge pin l8 passing through all of the hinge lugs hingedly connects the two plates [2 and [3 of the wafiie iron.

. Provision is made for confining the wailie batter between the meeting surfaces of the waflie plates after it has been introduced into the waffle iron and after the waffle'iron has been closed. In the particular machine illustrated in the drawings this is a'ccomplished'by metal strips attached to the edge faces of one plate of the waffle iron which overlap the corresponding edge faces of the other plate. In the machine illustrated two of such strips are secured to two contiguous edge faces of one plate and two are secured to the contiguous edge faces'of the other plate which are not overlapped by the strips on the firstmentioned plate. As best shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the longitudinal edge face of the swinging plate l3 farthest from the hinge pin [8, has secured to it a metal strip 19 which projects slightly beyond the inner surface of the plate so that when the waiiie iron is closed the projecting portion of this strip overlaps the other plate i2 a small amount. Another strip 20 is similarly secured to that edge face of the swinging plate I3 which constitutes the rear end face thereof when the'waflie iron is moving on the upper track. The projecting portion of this strip also overlaps the other plate l2 when the waffle iron is closed. The plate i2 carries two similar strips 2| and 22 (Fig. 5), the former being secured to the edge face of the plate nearest the hinge pin l8 and the latter being secured to that edge face of the plate which constitutes its forward end face when the 'waflie iron is moving on the upper track 2.

overlap the corresponding edge faces of the swinging plate 53. The four metal strips I9, 20, 2| and 22 therefore overlie the line of juncture between the two plates of the Wafiie iron when the wafile iron is closed and confine the batter between the two plates. However, the two end strips 2%] and 22 are purposely made shorter than the width of the wafile iron plates so that when the wafile iron is in closed position vents are left at opposite ends of these strips. Two of these vents appear at 23 and 24 in Fig. 3. Two corresponding vents exist at the opposite end of the waiiie iron one of which appears at 23 in Fig. 8. There are therefore four of these vents, one at each corner of the waffle iron. The vents permit the steam and vapors to escape from the waflie iron during the baking of the waffle.

Each waiile iron is provided with a latch which is actuated after batter has been introduced into the wafiie iron and after the waflie iron has been closed to latch the swinging section of the waffle iron to the fixed section and prevent them from separating until the latch is again actuated to permit opening of the waffle iron just before it reaches the filling station. The latch comprises a shaft 25 (Figs. 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8) mounted on the fixed section of the wafiie iron and projecting toward the other section. It is mounted so that it can rotate about its own axis. It has an enlarged latching head 26 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8). When the latch head is in the position shown in Fig. 5 it can pass through an elongated opening 21 (Fig. 2) in a latch plate 28 secured to a metal strip 29 which in turn is secured to the outer side of the swinging plate I3 and projects beyond its longitudinal edge farthest from the hinge pin iii. The metal strip 29 is provided with an opening 33 (Fig. 8) under the latch plate 28 through which the head 26 of the latch can also pass. After the latch head 26 passes through the opening 21 in the latch plate and is turned so that its long axis is at right angles to the long axis of the opening 21 asshown in Fig. 2, it is evident that the two sections of the waflle iron will be latched in closed position. At the end of the metal strip 29 which carries the latch plate 28 there is a roller 3| (Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6 and 8) the purposeof which will be presently described. The other end of the latch shaft 25 has secured to it a Geneva wheel 32, best shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and .8, which when actuatedzas hereinafter described, turns the latch shaft and consequently its head 26 to latching and unlatching positions.

When each waffle iron is moving along the lower track 211 it is in inverted position and the swinging plate 13 is then at the lower side of the waffle iron. The latch head 26 is also then at the lower side of the waflle iron but the Geneva wheel 32 is at the upper side as will be: seen from Fig. 1. Just after each wailie iron starts moving upwardly around the curved members 3 (Fig. 1) a pin 33 mounted in a bracket 34 engages the Geneva wheel and turns it a quarter of a revolution so that the latch head 26 is turned from its latching position shown. in Fig. 2 to its unlatching position which permits-the waffle iron to be opened. The above-mentioned roller 3| at the end of the metal strip 29 on the swinging plate i3 then enters a cam track 35 (Fig. 1) so shaped that during movement of the wafile iron onto the upper track 2 the swinging section of the Waflle iron will be moved to open position and will reach fully open positicnby the time the waflie iron arrives at the filling station F. As soon as each waflie iron opens far enough, an operatorstationedat the end of the machine strips the baked wafilefrom r '5; it.

closed position by the cam track 35 and then a pinsimilar to the cneshownat 33., but not shown in the drawing, again actuates the Geneva wheel 32 and turns the latch head 26 to latching position. 7

The details of the machine as thus far 'de,-

scribed do not form part of the invention. As

previously stated, the above-described vents at the four corners of each waffle iron which permit steam and vapors to escape from between the waffle ironplates during the baking of the waffie also permit some of the batter to escape through thevents, and the additional parts added to themachine inaccordance with the invention-are for removing this excess batter. These parts are best shown in Figs. 6-8. Two blocks 36 are secured to each axle bar It; by any suitable means such Fig. Sthese blocks are supported on the upper faces of the axle bars I4 and at the upper side of the waffle iron. A pair of plates 38 and 39 at vopposite sides of each block Stare pivotally connected-to it by a pivot pin til extending through the block. The two plates 38 and 39 also support betweenthem a roller 4!. A knife-carrying block 42, pivotally mounted between each pair of plates 38 and 39 by a pin 43, has attached to it by a bolt 44, a knife blade 45, so positioned that in its normal position its cutting edge 46 lies just above one of the above-mentioned steam vents as shown in Fig. 8. The relationship between the cutting edges of the trimming knives and the steam vents is alsoshown in Fig. 3, although in this figure the Waffle iron is not shown in inverted position and therefore the cutting edges of the knives appear belowthe steam vents. Each knife-carrying block 42 is biased on its pivot 43 by a coil spring 4'1 in such a way that the end of the knife blade is yield: ingly urged toward the end faces of the wafile'iron plates i2 and 13. The opposite ends of each coil As previously stated, fresh 'batteris intro-' duced into the open wafiie iron at the station F,. and as it proceeds along the upper track 2, the, swinging section of the waflle iron is moved to or? it "may comprise two separate cams-.oneof: which acts successively on thetwo rollers; .41- atn one edge of the waffleiron and theiother of which I acts successively on the .two rollers 41 at:the.oppo-.

site edge of the wafile-iron. In any event-thecam means 53 depresses each roller. 4| as it" moves thereunder and thereby swings the plates 38 and 39:, the knife-carrying block 42, and the knife carried thereby, about thewpivot pin'40 inatdirecation to move the cutting edge of theknife across the steam and vapor vent and thereby remove any batter adhering to the baked wafiie and to the end faces of the wailieiron. Fig. 7 shows the position of the parts at the end of the cuttinii. stroke. positionshown in this figurethe spring 41 is compressed, as shown, and the more it is compressed theifirmer it presses the :cutting end'of theknife into engagement with the endfac'es of the waflle When each roller 4| moves beyond iron plates.

thecam 53, spring i'l'returns the parts to their normal positionshown in Fig.6.

The cam' 53 is preferably mounted eccentrically on a shaft 5 as shown in Figs. 1, Band 7' so that by turning it on the shaft the length ofthestroke imparted to the knife can be varied; i

.It will now be seen that there is associated with each steam and vapor vent on each wafiie iron a trimming knife which is automatically actuated during travel of the waffle iron through the machine, preferably at a location at which the baking of the waffle is completed, for trimming the" excess batter from-the baked wafile and from the waffi iron prior to the removal of the-waffle from the w-afiie iron and'without the necessity of any manual trimming operation-of the kind'that was heretofore necessary.

Iclaim:

1. In a waifie baking machine-in which wafiiei irons, each comprising a pair of mold sections and each provided with at least one steam vent,

are moved successively past a station at which spring. it] may be accommodated in openings 18/v tact With the end faces of the Wafile iron plates as above described, but it also biases the plates 38 and 39, and hence the knife itself, to normal inoperative position, i. e., their uppermost position as viewed in Fig. 6. In this position of the parts the pin 5| contacts with the upper portion they are opened and filled with batter and then pastheating means which bakes the wailles, means for removing the batter that escapes through the steam vent of each wafile iron, said means comprising a knife mounting carried by one mold section of each waflle irongfor move, ment' relative to such section, a knife blade on said mounting and having a cutting edge arranged to move across the steam vent of the corresponding waffle iron when the knife mounting is actuated relative to the mold section which carries it, and cam means mounted on a stationary part of the machine arranged to engage a part on the knife mounting as said part passes the cam means to thereby actuate the knife mounting relative to the mold section which carries it and cause the cutting edge of the knife blade to move across the steam vent of the corresponding waiile iron and remove any batter that has escaped therethrough, said cam means being of the curved surface of the opening 52 in the block '36. This pin therefore constitutes a stop to limit the upward movement of the knife blade as viewed in Fig. 6.

When each waffle iron has almost completed its travel along the lower track 2a the rollers 4| pass under cam means which depresses the rollers and thereby actuates the knife blades. The cam means may be a single cam shown at 53 (Figs. 1, 6 and '7) arranged to act on both rollers, M at the leading end of the waffle iron and then on both rollers at the trailing end of the waflle iron,

located at such a point along the path of travel of the wafile irons that it actuates the knife mounting on each walile iron after the baking of the waifie therein is substantially completed by the heating means.

2. In a waffle baking .machinein which waffle irons, each comprising a pair of hinged plates and each having at least one steam vent at the juncture line between the plates, are moved successively past a station at which they are opened and filled with batter and then past heating means which bakes the waflies, means for removing the batter that escapes through the steam vent of During movement of the parts to the each waflie iron, said mean comprising a knife mounting pivotally carried by each waflie iron, a knife blade on said mounting and having a cutting edge arranged to move across the steam vent when the knife mounting is actuated about its pivot, and cam means mounted on a stationary part of the machine arranged to engage a part on the knife mounting as said part passes the cam means to thereby actuate the knife mounting and cause the cutting edge of the knife blade to move across the steam vent and remove any batter that has escaped therethrough, said cam means being located at such a point along the path of travel of the wafiie irons that it actuates the knife mounting on each waffle iron after the baking of the waffle therein is substantially completed by the heating means.

3. In a waflle baking machine in which wafile irons, each comprising a pair of hinged plates and each having a steam vent at each of its corners at the juncture line between the plates, are moved successively past a station at which they are opened and filled with batter and then past heating means which bakes the waffles, means for removin the batter that escapes through the steam vents of each waffle iron, said means comprising four knife mountings pivotally carried by each waflie iron and each carrying a knife blade arranged so that its cuttin edge moves across one of said steam vents when the knife mounting is actuated about its pivot, and cam means on a stationary part of the machine arranged to engage a part on each knife mounting as said part passes the cam means to thereby actuate the corresponding knife mounting and cause the edge of its knife blade to move across the corresponding steam vent and remove any batter that has escaped therethrough, said cam means being located at such a point along the path of travel of the wafile irons that it actuates the knife mounting on each waiiie iron after the baking of the waflle therein is substantially completed by the heating means.

4. In a waflie baking machine in which a waflle iron comprising a pair of hinged plates and having at least one steam vent at the juncture line between the plates, is moved past a station at which it is opened and filled with batter and then past heating means which bakes the waflie,

means for removing the batter that escapes through the steam vent, said means comprising a knife mounting pivotally carried by the waffle iron, a knife blade on said mounting and having a cutting edge which in the normal position of the knife mounting lies adjacent the steam vent and which is arranged to move across the steam vent when the knife mounting is moved from its normal position to produce a cutting stroke of the knife blade, spring means for returning the knife and its mounting to normal position after the knife mounting has been actuated to produce a cutting stroke of the knife, stop means for arresting the return movement of the knife mounting when it reaches its normal position, and cam means mounted on a stationary part of the machine arranged to engage a part on the knife mounting as said part passes the cam means to thereby actuate the knife mounting to produce a cutting stroke of the knife and cause the cutting edge of the knife blade to move across the steam vent and remove any batter that has escaped therethrough, said cam means being located at such a point along the path of travel of the waiiie iron that it actuates the knife mounting after the baking of the waffle has been substantially completed.

5. A waffle baking machine in accordance with claim 4 in which said knife blade is secured to a portion of the knife mounting which can pivot with respect to the rest of the knife mounting, and said spring which serves to return the knife mounting to normal position acts on said portion to which the knife blade is secured so that the cutting edge of the knife is yieldingly biased inwardly toward the steam vent.

THEODORE F. SCHLICKSUPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Australia Nov. 4, 1927 

